Community profile Belfast (Census area units: Belfast, Belfast South, Northwood)

Community profile

Belfast

(Census area units: Belfast, Belfast South, Northwood)

Belfast (including Belfast South and Northwood) is a significant suburb of Christchurch as it serves as the gateway to the city from the north. Situated 11 kilometres from the city centre, Belfast is recognised in the Urban Development Strategy as forming 'the northern gateway into the city and a community services focal point'. One of Christchurch’s oldest suburbs, the township derived its name from the meat works established by The Provision and Produce Company in the mid-1800s. Many of its residents today have had a long family association with the meat works, which closed in 2008, and have continued living in the area. In recent years a large residential development at Northwood has altered the demographics of the area, as well as bringing a large shopping complex (Supa Centa) and supermarket. Belfast is identified as a significant area of Christchurch which will experience growth over the next 10 years and the Council has acknowledged this in the establishment of the Belfast Area Plan. There are a large number of well-used reserves and river walkways with strong historical and cultural importance. Major sporting and recreational activities and clubs are located at Sheldon Park next to the area's only school, Belfast School. The area's total population in the 2006 Census data was 6366 and is estimated to grow to 11,880 by 2031; the New Zealand Deprivation Index 2006 for the Belfast area is 5 (10 being the most deprived) and 2 for the Belfast South area. There are 2 Council housing complexes and 33 Housing New Zealand properties providing social housing for people in the area.

Christchurch City

Key demographics

Usually resident population count Data from Statistics NZ

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

1996 2001 2006 2011

(est)

2016

(est)

2021

(est)

2026

(est)

2031

(est)

5.9

1.1

6.4

0.4

12.4

73.8European

Mäori

Pacif ic

Peoples'

Asian

MELAA

Other

Belfast Christchurch City

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

1996 2001 2006

Belfast Christchurch City

Employment status (%) Data from 2006 Census, Statistics NZ

57.6

18.1

2.5

21.8

Employed

Full-time

Employed

Part-time

Unemployed

Not in the

Labour

Force

Couple w ithout children

Couple w ith child(ren)

One parent w ith

child(ren)

Ethnic groups in the area (%) Data from 2006 Census, Statistics NZ

Dw elling Ow ned or

Partly Ow ned by Usual

Resident(s)

Dw elling Not Ow ned by

Usual Resident(s)

Family Trust

Not Stated

Home ownership (%) Data from 2006 Census, Statistics NZ

Family type (%) Data from 2006 Census, Statistics NZ

Social infrastructure mapping

The above ratings have been based on reach, diversity, and participation. For example, bigger circles tend to be groups that provide a wider range of services, or have large numbers of participants. They also tend to be groups that are well networked within the community. Belfast has 23 identified community organisations across the zone. These are spread across five sectors: three community organisations, six sports organisations, six recreation/leisure groups, four faith-based organisations, and one residents' group. There are no identified business associations or meeting venues in this zone. There are two organisations which show high reach and impact across the zone. There is one group with strong community development principles working in the area. There is clearly a greater number of recreational groups and sports organisations which have increased participation from the zone.

Community development/support organisations

Faith-based organisations

Residents'/business associations

Schools

Community facilities (Council-owned)

Libraries (Council-owned)

Sport/recreation/leisure groups

Belfast

Community resilience mapping

0

1

2

3

4

5

1a

1b

1c

2a

2b

2c

3a

3b3c

4a

4b

4c

5a

5b

5c

Scale: 1 = Low 5 = High

15 measures of resilience

Community development organisations rating 1a Number of organisations (3) 1b Strength of organisations (4) 1c Community development principles (3)

Volunteering rating 2a Investment in volunteers (4) 2b Number of volunteer hours (funded groups) (3) 2c Number of people volunteering from Census (1)

Connectedness rating 3a Number of neighbourhood support groups (1) 3b Number of residents' associations (3) 3c Access to networking groups/forums (4)

Participation rating 4a Community events (3) 4b Funded projects participation rates (4) 4c Club membership numbers (4)

Preparedness rating 5a Number of neighbourhood support groups (1) 5b Households involved in neighbourhood support (2) 5c Capability of groups to lead local response (3)

Earthquake impact analysis

0

1

2

3

4

5

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

k.

l.

Pre-Quake Nov-11 Nov-12

Pre-Sep. 2010 Nov. 2011 Nov. 2012 Social environment a. Community organisations 4 4 4 b. Community connectedness 3 3 4 c. Community participation 3 4 4 Built environment d. Housing stock 4 3 4 e. Roading infrastructure 4 4 4 f. Community facilities 4 3 2 Economic environment g. Local business/services 4 4 4 h. Access to local services 4 4 4 i. Local economy 4 3 4 Natural environment j. Land condition 4 3 4 k. Parks and spaces 3 3 4 l. Accessibility to natural environment 3 3 4

Community environment Social environment

Community organisations continue to respond well following the 22 February 2011 earthquake, and are preparing to respond to the imminent changes as new housing and industrial growth occurs. Community workers acknowledge the changes this will bring to community dynamics as people from other parts of the city relocate to this zone. In May 2012 the Belfast Community Network, the area's largest community development agency, was forced to move from its facility on Main North Road due to earthquake damage. The building has since been demolished. Staff and services are temporarily located at Belfast School as they await the construction of a temporary facility located on Sheldon Park, adjacent to the Belfast Bowling Club. This is seen as a critical community resource. Local groups report that community participation increased after February 2011, as the community and its volunteers worked hard to provide opportunities for social activities and connectedness. Agencies continue to note fatigue in volunteers as they deal with the on-going stresses of the disaster, as well as with the increased workload and demand on their time. The rapid growth within the Belfast area over the last decade has resulted in ‘growing pains’ where community and physical infrastructure have not quite kept pace. As a result of the earthquakes, plans for expansion and subdivision of land for residential and industrial development have been fast-tracked. It will be important to ensure the corresponding social/cultural needs and desires of the community are taken into account. The community has raised concerns about insufficient community facilities and infrastructure. Most meeting venues are full to capacity. Improved pedestrian and cycle links, additional community and recreational facilities, and concern about the shift of facilities to the south are of particular interest.

Built environment

There has been no dramatic change in the built environment; however, a significant amount of land is earmarked for residential subdivision, with an anticipated 6579 sections over the next 3-8 years. The Belfast Area Plan (BAP) states that “as the area continues to develop, it is important to retain and enhance the environmental assets valued by the community. The BAP provides a mechanism for ensuring that the community’s vision for the area is achieved while protecting the local environment and character.” The proposed Northern Arterial Motorway and Western Corridor expansion is expected to change the traffic density on Main North Road and Johns Road, making it safer for the community and pedestrians over time, thus improving liveability. Belfast is part of the Bishopdale Fletchers/EQR hub which also services the areas of Northwood, Styx, Regents Park, Casebrook, Northcote, Redwood, Kiang, Stewarts Gully, Coutts Island, Chaney’s, Spencerville and Bridgend.

Economic environment

For the year ending September 2012, 799 dwellings were sold in the REINZ Northern Outer area (this includes the Papanui, Bishopdale, Redwood and Belfast areas). This represents a 57.28 per cent increase on the previous 12 months. The monthly median price rose from $355,000 for the year ending September 2011 to $372,000 for the year ending September 2012. Belfast has a strong economic hub in terms of the new and expanding Supa Centa. This has remained open for business through this time and suffered little damage to the business infrastructure. New businesses displaced from other areas of the city, including the newly-arrived Post Shop and ANZ bank, have relocated to the Supa Centa complex and report an increase in trade and profits. It is reported that Belfast does not have a dentist in the area as yet and with increased growth this is deemed essential. An informal business association was set up post-earthquakes, but to date has not formalised its activities.

Community environment Natural environment

Physically the area of Belfast suffered little damage in both the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes; however, the impact of the earthquakes has been felt socially and financially as many residents were employed in parts of the city that were severely damaged. As housing and industrial developments are completed, it is deemed more important than ever to ensure that Belfast’s natural values and local ecosystems are considered through the protection, enhancement and restoration of local geology and soils, water and wetlands and flora and fauna. This includes accessible, inter-connected networks of open spaces which offer diversity in function, type, and size of parks and reserves to meet local and regional needs. As a result of fast-paced change it will also be important to promote and protect Belfast’s heritage features and conserve places of historical and cultural importance.

Land condition in Belfast

Prior to the land announcements on 28 October 2011 there was a small amount of land zoned 'orange' in the area around Northwood Boulevard. This area has subsequently been reclassified as 'green', with the new Department of Building and Housing (DBH) technical classifications of 'blue' and 'yellow'.

Technical Category 3 (TC3) – Moderate to significant land damage from liquefaction is possible in future significant earthquakes. Repair/rebuild process can begin on buildings that do not require foundation repair or rebuild. Site-specific investigation is required for those that do.

Technical Category 2 (TC2) – Minor to moderate land damage from liquefaction is possible in future significant earthquakes. Repair/rebuild process can begin. Areas around Northwood Boulevard, Mounter Avenue, Englefield Road and Tisch Place are zoned as TC3. The rest of the Belfast residential area is zoned TC2. The rest of the zone is classified as unzoned – Rural and Unmapped. These classifications, released in late-October 2011, provide some further clarity around approaches to repair and rebuild options for home-owners.

Future risks/opportunities

Risk / opportunity Progress to date / outcomes

•••• The emotional impact on people, particularly those who live alone, the elderly or those who have a disability.

•••• Belfast Community Network and local churches continue to provide opportunities for older people to gather and socialise and have raised this as a priority.

•••• Pressure on existing services and schools will increase over time as residential subdivision developments are completed.

•••• The Ministry of Education's announcement on the possible closure of Ouruhia School will impact on Belfast Primary School. Community consultations continue as they work to the timeframe given by the Ministry.

•••• A future library and community facility is planned for this area. It is unclear where the library will be located; however, once potential sites are identified the project will go out to public consultation.

•••• It is expected that this body of work will commence in 2014.

•••• As a result of the Brooklands red zoning and the possible closure of Ouruhia School, this presents Belfast with opportunities to absorb students and pre-schoolers from that area.

•••• At the time of writing the Belfast School has a role of 480 with capacity for 700 to 900 over time. The Belfast Kidsfirst Playcentre is nearly at capacity with a role of 37 and capacity of 40.

•••• The Northern Arterial Motorway will draw traffic flows away from the Main North Road. It is expected to provide:

- Safer streets: By moving heavy traffic off suburban roads, they will be more pleasant for walking, cycling and public transport.

- Improved access: Freight will move more efficiently in and out of Lyttelton Port.

- Improved travel times: The extra lanes will make travel times shorter and more reliable.

- Economic growth: Urban, commercial and industrial development in the Belfast Area Plan will be supported by the construction of the new motorway.

•••• The February 2011 earthquake has altered the project's progress. However, the planning process for the project will continue, although there will be a need to maintain flexibility.

•••• There are many opportunities to create strong communities as people move into the area and populate new housing subdivisions.

•••• On-going work with residents' associations and the establishment of new neighbourhood support groups.

•••• The capacity of local community organisations to meet the demands of the growing population. The community also lacks youth workers.

•••• Council staff to work with local groups to ensure strong strategic planning is carried out.

•••• An opportunity exists for the local community to develop a strong strategic plan, taking into consideration the growth expected over the next 5–10 years.

•••• Belfast Community Network and member organisations to work on this.

•••• A recent needs analysis has been completed.

•••• Plunket has reported an increase in babies as people move into the area.

•••• Belfast Community Network to collaborate with local agencies to ensure a co-ordinated response to services.